Cheaper Champ Variants

[Mechanical Birds]

I’ve been browsing for like a half hour and not only can’t find any examples for sale, but really info on what I might look for on forums or anything.

Is there anything out there, new or old, that I might still find in the ~$200-300 range? I’ve wanted one forever but never felt comfortable investing with the prices I see out there. Honestly, any small low-watt tube amp would be cool. I’d love to hear any suggestions

Thanks in advance!

[nanamour]

If you can track one down, I can wholeheartedly recommend the humble Alamo Challenger: more or less a point-to-point 5F2 Princeton clone made in San Antonio, TX from the 60s through the early 70s. While there were a few cosmetic eras of these amps, most of them have a relatively generously-sized cabinet housing a 10" speaker, which to my ears is a welcome upgrade from the 8" standard equipment in a Champ unless you are specifically chasing that sound. My old Challenger (IIRC sold to someone here a few years ago?) was about the size of a Musicmaster Bass Amp and sounded utterly fantastic after swapping the original ratty ceramic speaker for an alnico Weber of some sort. Reverb prices on these are...optimistic, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if you could track one down in your price bracket trawling eBay, just be mindful to factor in some dough for a tech once-over and maybe a speaker upgrade down the line.

[jthomas]

Amp prices skyrocketed after COVID.

A Champ kit bought through Weber (maybe the cheapest safe option out there) without a cab is still going to be about $450. Buying the parts separately (in my experience) won't save much beyond that. And you would need to assemble it. Not difficult if you have some experience with electricity.

https://www.tedweber.com/5f1-c-kt

A search on Ebay showed a few kits in the $160 - $200 range without cabs. DK how good the transformers and parts are. Probably more risk of getting something wonky... but who knows. You would need to build a cab and get your own speaker with the kits.

Reverb has a couple of Champ style amps in the $350 - $400 range. There is a Mojotone that might be a good deal although it's listed as a kit but shows a completed amp. The Reverb 5f1's are without cabs so you would need to build something.

EDIT: The Fender circuit designation for a tweed Champ is "5F1." You might try searching with that term.

[ThePearDream]

I picked up a VHT Special 6 combo earlier this year for ~$250. It's supposed to be based on the Champ, I guess. It's a hand wired, two knob, 10" combo, with a 6V6 power tube, no negative feedback loop though. I really had no complaints about it stock, especially for the price. Me being me though, I found a mod kit to make mine more like a 5F2A Princeton, and upgraded the speaker and tubes. Anyway, these seem to still be going for $200-250 currently, so might be worth looking at.

[jthomas]

How about this:

https://reverb.com/item/75219837-modded ... en-speaker

[marqueemoon]

I had a Special 6 head for a while. Never did any mods.

I thought it sounded pretty nice at bedroom volumes, particularly on the 1W setting. It really fell apart when cranked though, managing to be both harsh and muddy.

[panoramic]

u45b is hands down the best
then of the ones I have owned over the years:
vht special 6 is good
the alamo one listed above is a solid winner
the epiphone valve jr is a good one as well.
also early Pro Jr's are rock solid machines of mayhem

[øøøøøøø]

Silvertone 1481?

Edit: surely people aren’t actually asking $500 for these now?

I bet if you browsed the local marketplace/Craigslist scene you’d eventually find one for sensible $

[Nevets]

I had a Bugeta 5 watt amp for a few years and it was actually a nice sounding little amp, if a bit dark. Nice looking too, I got several compliments from non guitarists when they saw it in my living room. Sold it off when I got a vintage Vibro Champ but I'm considering grabbing another.

[HarktheUmpire]

Silvertone 1481?

Edit: surely people aren’t actually asking $500 for these now?

I bet if you browsed the local marketplace/Craigslist scene you’d eventually find one for sensible $

Not a bad choice, provided you’re good at modding amps. They sound nowhere near as nice as Champs if kept original. Many of the modern 5-watt tube amps mentioned earlier will sound better, are better built and can be found for less money. The only thing that’s really cool about the 1481, imo, is the simplicity of the circuit, making it easy and fun to transform into a good amp.

A 1482 (5 watts, 1x12“) should be easier to find and oughta sound a whole lot nicer in stock condition.

[s_mcsleazy]

fender champ 12. i was lucky i got mine for £250 but there was a reason mine was so cheap and when you see it, you'll understand why.

[øøøøøøø]

Silvertone 1481?

Edit: surely people aren’t actually asking $500 for these now?

I bet if you browsed the local marketplace/Craigslist scene you’d eventually find one for sensible $

Not a bad choice, provided you’re good at modding amps. They sound nowhere near as nice as Champs if kept original. Many of the modern 5-watt tube amps mentioned earlier will sound better, are better built and can be found for less money. The only thing that’s really cool about the 1481, imo, is the simplicity of the circuit, making it easy and fun to transform into a good amp.

A 1482 (5 watts, 1x12“) should be easier to find and oughta sound a whole lot nicer in stock condition.

“Better” is, of course, subjective

I no longer have a 1481, but I liked the one I had better than any champ I’ve ever owned

[HarktheUmpire]

“Better” is, of course, subjective

I no longer have a 1481, but I liked the one I had better than any champ I’ve ever owned

Of course, yes. Sorry, didn't mean to irritate.

[mcatano]

When they're in stock, these routinely go on sale for $99: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=611705


There's a 15W version as well. Both amps are well-reviewed across the board, the 15W is a clone of a laney Cub iirc, the 5W is supposed to be a basic fender-ish design.

[Shane110111]

I can't recommend the Blackheart Little Giant enough. 5 watts (switchable to 3), all tube combo with 3 band eq and a 12" speaker. Sounds excellent both clean and cranked, takes pedals amazingly well, built like a literal tank, easy to mod and can be found for cheap (paid $150CDN for mine). It punches well above it's weight both in tone and build quality. They sadly don't make them anymore but if you can find one, buy it!